2016 was a sad year for music. We didn't only lose David Bowie and Prince, but we also lost music icon George Michael at Christmas. The demise of the music icon affected music lovers, his family and those who knew him. Then there is The Late Show host James Corden, who saluted the artist.
After talking about his holidays, the British host talked about the passing of George Michael, whom he admired very much. I went back to London over Christmas and had the best time, Corden said. I went back to London over Christmas and had the best time. But there was some really sad news over Christmas that hit me really hard... the passing away of George Michael.
As Corden continued, he got more and more emotional: I feel like I've loved George Michael as long as I've kind of loved music, in a way, and I know so many of this fans feel the same.
He added: Like sometimes, I can remember so many specific times in my life where I might have felt on my own, and George's music would feel like he just... it would feel like you would listen to a song and he would reach his hand out and tell you that you weren't on your own and that these feelings were not particular to you.
Then Corden talked about having the opportunity to work with George Michael for a sketch for the UK charity show Comedy Relief.
We called his management, and we called the label. I'll never ever forget it, but they said, ‘George would like to talk to you about this himself. But he's in Australia, so he's going to ring you, but when he calls you, it'll be 3 a.m. in London.'
It was the weirdest feeling going to bed thinking, ‘When I wake up, it's going to be because George Michael is on the phone and I'm going to talk to him about this sketch.' We chatted for an hour, and we talked about music.
The idea Corden had in mind was a sketch of himself singing karaoike in a car with a famous singer. Now that idea has become a worldwide sensation. We've seen celebrities from all walks of life on Corden's passenger seats singing to tunes. Some of the people that have been on the ‘Carpool Karoke' section of his show are Sir Elton John, J.Lo, Adele, One Direction, Selena Gomez, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Justin Bieber and even the First Lady Michelle Obama.
Corden said that the ‘Carpool‘ karaoke wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for George. He said: When we started the show here, we were trying to get people to do Carpool Karaoke, and not many artists wanted to do it. We would send them this clip of me and George, and we sent it to Mariah Carey, and she was the first person to say yes. Her words were, ‘If it's good enough for George, then it's good enough for me. I'll do it.'
So, we all have so much to thank him for, for the music that he's given that will last forever. But we personally, here at this show, we owe him so much.